Design and implementation of a process for the approval of DTT equipment for the Digital Dividend

On June 18 it was delivery of the award to the best project in the field of telecommunications, annually by the Technical school Superior of engineering of Bilbao with the patronage of Itelazpi, the Basque public company specializing in telecommunications services. The relevance of the award-winning project is that addresses aspects of news related to the realignment of radio space, the phenomenon known as the Digital Dividend, which has been the sale of the high-band television operators to offer 4G services.

The project has been developed in Itelazpi, public company of the Basque Government. Two years were performed tasks related to DTT and radio, as coverage and optimization them, implementation of network equipment in network management and documentation among other management tasks. During 9 months, these tasks were shared with the completion of the project, which stems from the need to purchase new transmitters and gap filler of DVB-T because of the Digital Dividend and to the obligation of simultaneous broadcasting of digital channels that are broadcast currently and the future until the final allocation of the new multiplex. The public nature of Itelazpi requires transparency in their practices since its activity must be known by the society and is also committed to offer quality solutions and impartial to citizenship. In this way, Itelazpi uses the contests to tenders and contract awards. Thus arises the need for approval of equipment to purchase. It is in this approval process in which is based the project, describing each of the stages from the definition of mandatory equipment specifications, through the evaluation of the bids received until finally the determination of approved equipment.

The main objective of the project is the design and implementation of an approval process that allows determination of the approved manufacturers of DTT equipment that Itelazpi should acquire. This equipment will be used for the extension of coverage of new multiplex and broadcast in simulcast of these and existing ones, all motivated by the so-called Digital dividend.

The approval process is to assess and qualify suppliers, in order to have a record of providers approved in terms of administrative, operational, commercial and quality, which will ensure its ability to supply products in accordance with the requirements of the organization.

The project addresses in turn the following objectives of the definition of technical specifications of the equipment of obligatory, the development of a protocol for measures of technical details for new DTT equipment and the preparation of measures of transmitters, gap filler and regenerative transposers in laboratory and/or the transmitter Center according to the Protocol of measures developed.

This project includes also the State of the art of the different current broadcasting technologies.

Last and final goal is the technical and economic assessment of the equipment and determination of the approved manufacturers

The project provides multiple benefits both Itelazpi and society in general. The main technical advantage of the project is to offer citizenship from objectivity the best technical solution to address the digital dividend and the broadcast in simulcast of the channel. The new information package tries to also promote the development of new technologies and solutions for DTT equipment still non-existent in the market.

Another great benefit of implementing this process of approval is that it saves costs by economic powers, thanks to it it is possible to make a comparison between different offers and offer the most economical solution to the citizenship.

It should be noted that the guarantee of environmental conditions is very present in the approval process. Mandatory RoHS certification of the equipment, as well as other certifications ecodesign are responsible for the environment and energy saving.

The implementation of the approval process is divided into different phases: phase of obtaining enforceable technical specifications, the elaboration of the Protocol of measures, analysis of the bids received, the realization of measures and finally the allocation of points.

To be able to be part of the approval process equipment should comply with technical characteristics mandatory for transmitters, transposers filler and regenerative transposers.

Taking into account the rules of DVB-T and the experience of the professionals of Itelazpi transmission, could be thresholds of quality minimum requirements for computers that were to participate in the approval process.

After making a study of the parameters affecting the quality of the radio signal it was decided to count on some of the technical parameters for the specification and discard others. In this way took into account parameters such as: MER, phase noise of the OL, shoulder pads, spurious out of band, linearity, residue of OL etc.

In the absence of an already existing protocol for measurements of quality of DTT equipment arises the need to create one, which was tailored for the certification of equipment described here with the intention that can also serve as possible future for Itelazpi both cases at other institutions. It provides for the procedure of measurement of each parameter and includes alternative measure, due to the different characteristics as different inputs/outputs of each equipment.

To make a technical assessment of the equipment, it was essential to have the necessary instrumentation to carry out technical measures following the Protocol of measures implemented.

Once carried out the measurements according to the Protocol of measures was the scaling of the teams definitely getting the list computers that meet with the approval of DTT equipment from Itelazpi.

The opportunity to practice in Itelazpi has given me the possibility of working with professionals who have given me technical knowledge, experience and personal growth, as well as to perform a final project that covers both technical and management topics. The work has been directed by the Professor of the ETSIB David de la Vega, which through its technical knowledge and positive attitude helped me to focus on the project. From here I take to thank both the staff of Itelazpi as to David de la Vega its involvement in the project. This prize means to me the recognition and reward to the effort involved to combine studies in telecommunications engineering with internships in company. Telecommunications are to me an exciting field in which I have been able to continue my knowledge after living a period of 3 years in Germany, where I had the opportunity to work at Texas Instruments performing technical support.

I am currently working in Bilbao, in the German company Rohde & Schwarz, in the division of instrumentation, occupying the position of sales engineer responsible for the northern area of Spain. You have the opportunity to work in the leader in instrumentation in Europe provides me with the opportunity to interact with engineering departments that develop cutting-edge research projects.